KA-BARBKR7-BRK Combat Utility , Black, 7-Inch

I'm no stranger to knives, whether for combat, urban tactical, or wilderness survival. I've owned many in my life, and my love for medium to large fixed blades started with the first fixed blade I ever owned--the Ka-Bar 1217 USMC Fighting/Utility Knife. I used that Ka-Bar for many years while in the Corps, and while it was a great knife there were small things I thought it was lacking in.Enter the Ka-Bar/Becker BK-7. After hearing the story of this knife from Ethan Becker himself in an interview at SHOT show, I had to see this knife for myself. While this blade was originally commissioned to replace the original "Ka-Bar," Ethan instead designed one not to replace it, but to compete with it, saying "you can never replace the original." Well, I have to say it has replaced my beloved 1217 in my kit.The good:I loved this knife so much, I bought two. One I will keep as a backup in my emergency kit/get home bag. The other I will take with me on camping trips and hikes and will likely see heavy regular use.The blade is a respect-commanding 7.25" as I measured it from tip to handle scales, with an actual cutting edge of just over 7". The blade is also wider than the original Ka-Bar, at around 1-5/16". All told, this is a very tough and sturdy blade which came hair-shaving sharp out of the box. The "semi-clip" point (as Ethan Becker describes it) is very sharp yet extremely tough, with the upper swedge not actually sharpened. There is actually a very slight flat plane at the top of the swedge, which I prefer, keeping that point extremely capable for piercing tasks or drilling through material. The other thing I love about Becker knives with this type of clip point--the tip is actually aligned with the centerline of the entire knife, which not only makes it look balanced and symmetrical, but I'm assuming allows for much more efficient transfer of kinetic energy into the tip for better piercing penetration. After a weekend hiking and camping, the knife excelled at just about everything I threw at it, from de-limbing brances for firewood to chopping smaller diameter branches, to splitting wood down further for kindling. It cut through nylon and natural fiber cordage with ease, as well as the occasional zip tie. After the hard use that trip, the edge had held up beautifully and didn't even require a touch up.The handles on the entire Becker series are some of the best I've ever held. The ergonomics are fantastic, even for someone with larger hands, while still being very comfortable and manageable for small hands. The 3D contouring and palm swell are the most comfortable I've seen, much more than the slab type of scales found in other knives. While some people complain about the slipperiness of Ultramid, I had no issues with it whatsoever, in part due to the fantastic ergonomics and the "hook" at the back of the handle. But if you are so inclined, the scales are easily replaceable via three hex head bolts and nuts.The entire knife is very well balanced and feels lighter than it is for a knife this size. It definitely feels like a large knife in the hand, and certainly feels like it can tackle just about anything (including self-defense) without feeling excessive or cumbersome.The not-so-good:The first thing I noticed which I immediately thought could be improved upon is the sheath. The sheath is actually very well made and the materials feel like they're good quality, but it is really obvious the knife fits inside the sheath very loosely and rattles around considerably. The only thing keeping the knife in the sheath is ONE retention loop/strap with one snap button. There is a couple of eyelets in the top part of the sheath right about where the handle sits where you can add an additional paracord retention loop, but I feel like it shouldn't be necessary to add to the sheath to make it comfortably secure. I've never had the snap loop come undone, but I feel like after a while that snap will wear out. Also, the sheath is entirely too big for the size of the knife. The entire sheath measures 15" from end to end, almost a full 3" longer than the entire knife itself. I will be ordering a custom kydex sheath for it soon. I still gave the knife five stars because the sheath is easily replaceable; there's no point in knocking off points for something that doesn't affect the knife performance or design in the slightest.The other thing I wasn't a fan of is the epoxy coating. It is VERY rough and textured, almost like spray on truck bedliner. I felt like it actually hindered the cutting performance of the blade somewhat. I've since stripped the entire coating off my primary knife and kept the second one original since it won't get as much use. Now with the coating stripped, the blade performs FANTASTICALLY. I don't feel it get hung up on material like wood anymore. I know the steel is 1095CV, which will rust if it gets wet, but living in the desert in a very dry climate (and not intentionally allowing it to stay wet should it come in contact with water or moisture), the naked steel should not be a problem.Conclusion:You will NOT find a better knife anywhere near this price range. The entire Becker line is fantastic, and this has become my favorite knife. I have since bought all but one of the line's "large" knives (meaning, not the "tweeners" and not the neck knives), and every one of them is fantastic. Very comfortable, ergonomic, tough as a tank, hair-popping sharp, and sleek and sexy lines--all reasons to love this knife. If you're looking for a mid- to large size survival/tactical/wilderness knife, this one is an excellent choice.

There are currently 115 four and five star customer reviews, so there's probably not much I can add to what's been said already. I've got most of the BK&T knives that Ka-bar offers, and don't regret a single purchase. I think the BK7 is the pick of the litter however. It's got more length and less weight than the BK2 while still being very strong. It's not as long and front heavy as the BK9, so it a slower chopper, but in return it's a very well balanced knife. The balance point is right on the front handle screw, so just slightly ahead of the user's index finger, which creates a perfect balance for a knife this size.Speaking of size, yeah, it's a large knife, but not crazy/silly large compared to many large knives on the market today. I own more than one BK7, but still remember when I first unboxed mine several years ago. For the first day it seemed a little large and heavy, but I soon realized that it was absolutely perfect. It was my first large knife, so I just needed to recalibrate my perspective a little.It was designed as a "combat knife" which some other reviewers confuse with a "fighting knife." This knife while well balanced, is not a fighting knife-----------and who cares? If you really think you'll find yourself in a knife duel, then get on Bill Bagwell's waiting list or maybe buy one of Cold Steel's bowies. A combat knife should provide a soldier with a very sharp (and deadly) general purpose do everything knife that never fails in moments of need. There's nothing wrong with the old Ka-bar USMC knife, which has a very long and proven track record. But for users who want something even stronger and abuse proof (and comfortable to my hands) then the BK7 is a worthy successor. For any outdoorsman who aren't counting grams, this is a superb general purpose knife for them too.If you're reading these reviews then you're obviously considering purchasing the BK7. Feel free to read and consider the one star reviews also, but just know they're wrong. There are many great knives on the market today, but the combined quality, design, function and price, while being built in the USA, makes the BK7's value untouchable IMO. The sooner you add one to your shopping cart, the sooner you'll start a lifetime of enjoyment with a very well designed and crafted large knife. After the first couple days of smiling and using your new knife, you'll then kick yourself for now owning one much sooner.Edited for update. The 4&5 star reviews shot up from 115 to 484 in less than three years. Proof that a great product sells itself. For those who have just discovered the BK7, do yourself a favor and buy one if you've got the money saved up. Waiting and wondering only robs you of the joy of ownership, and the chance to experience one of the best production knives in this category. You might be trying to compare the BK7 with the ESEE 6 or something even more expensive and equally worthy. There are MANY great knives on the market, but the BK's have a huge following for good reasons............namely quality materials, workmanship, ergonomics, balance, and value. It has a distinctive, albeit not really beautiful look and doesn't really turn on its charm until you hold it. I bought my first (of many) several years ago on a whim. I thought it had enough going for it to merit trying one out. Within minutes of open the box I was blown away by how perfect it seemed. Using it in the field further confirmed my initial impressions were correct. Years later the fire still burns as strong in my hear for this knife as it did that first day.The prices seem to be climbing as their popularity does, so time lost is also money lost. 484 of us can't be wrong................so buy one and brace yourself for that moment of realization. It really is that good.